Decree Blog

In the digital age, the data is a high-stakes asset. Recognising this, Oman’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), issued by Royal Decree 6/2022, sets some serious obligations for data controllers and processors to protect and respect the personal data of users. If these data controllers and processors fail to fulfil their obligations, the law imposes serious penalties for non-compliance. This blog post will provide an overview of the penalties imposed under the PDPL.

Bereavement leave, or compassionate leave, recognises that employees may need time away from work due to the death of a close relative. It is a form of paid leave designed to support employees during difficult and vulnerable periods. This blog post will outline the types of bereavement leave available under the Labour Law of 2023.

Under article 70 of the Labour Law, workers are entitled to a daily one-hour rest and eating break, which is excluded from actual working hours. This blog post explains the legal framework governing working hours, mandatory lunch breaks, and employee rights within the 40-hour work week.

Foreign arbitral awards are decisions issued by arbitration tribunals seated outside the Sultanate of Oman, usually in disputes with an international or cross-border element. The enforcement of such awards is crucial because it determines the extent to which international commercial resolutions can be recognised and executed within Oman’s jurisdiction. The primary legal framework governing this process is the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law, promulgated by Royal Decree 29/2002, alongside the 1958 New York Convention, which Oman ratified via Royal Decree 36/98. This blog post provides an overview of the legal basis and key requirements for enforcing foreign arbitral awards in Oman.

The Single Person Company (SPC), or alternatively known as the One-Person Company, represents a distinctive business legal structure blending the autonomy of a sole proprietorship with the protective veil of limited liability enjoyed by Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). Enacted under articles 291 to 297 of the Commercial Companies Law of 2019, the SPC caters to individual entrepreneurs and corporate entities seeking to isolate particular business activities within a single-owner framework. This blog post will provide details on the formation, liability, and limitations of SPCs under Omani law.

Annual leave is a statutory right under Omani Labour Law. Although this right is well established, many employers and employees remain uncertain about its practical management, particularly when work requirements necessitate postponement or in cases of leave accumulation. This blog post provides practical insights on managing annual leave, explaining the statutory entitlements, the conditions governing postponement and carry-over of leave, and the circumstances under which compensation is required by law.

As money laundering and terrorist financing methods become more sophisticated, criminals are increasingly using multi-layered corporate structures to hide the individuals behind the business. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for authorities to trace illicit funds. In response, governments across the Middle East are shifting toward stricter transparency measures to align with international standards that require companies to disclose the identity of the ultimate beneficial owners, or UBOs, and maintain a register for the government to inspect at any time. This blog post will highlight the Omani legal framework in this regard and the key UBO obligations in Oman.